[05/16/06 - 12:00 AM]CBS Streaking to the Season's Finish Line with Its Ninth Consecutive Weekly Win in Viewers

[via press release from CBS]

CBS STREAKING TO THE SEASON'S FINISH LINE WITH ITS NINTH CONSECUTIVE WEEKLY WIN IN VIEWERS

CBS Is Also First in Adults 25-54

"CSI," "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY" All Dominate Their Respective Time Periods in Viewers and Key Demographics

The Finale of "Survivor: Panama-Exile Island" Places First in Its Time Period in Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 (Tie)

"Without a Trace," "The Unit," "NCIS," "Numb3rs" and the Season Finale of Freshman Drama "Criminal Minds" All Deliver Solid Performances

Through 18 Days of the May Sweep, CBS Is First in Viewers, Adults 25-54 and a Strong Second in Adults 18-49

CBS placed first in viewers for the ninth consecutive week, first in adults 25-54 and a solid second in adults 18-49 behind dominating wins by all three editions of the CSI franchise, the finale of SURVIVOR: PANAMA and solid performances by WITHOUT A TRACE, THE UNIT, NCIS, NUMB3RS and the season finale of CRIMINAL MINDS, according to Live Plus Same Day Nielsen ratings for the week ending May 14, week 34 of the 2005-2006 television season.

For the week in viewers, CBS (13.20m) was first, followed by FOX (10.77m), NBC (9.98m) and ABC (8.69m). This is CBS's best weekly delivery in viewers since the week ending Jan. 29, 2006. Season-to-date, CBS (12.63m) leads, followed by ABC (10.81m), FOX (9.88m) and NBC (9.74m).

For the week in households, CBS (8.4/14) was +29% ahead of both FOX and NBC (6.5/11 each) and +50% ahead of ABC (5.6/09). Season-to-date, CBS is first in households (8.2/13), outpacing ABC by +19% (6.9/11), NBC by +28% (6.4/10) and FOX by +34% (6.1/10).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was first in adults 25-54 (5.1/13) and second in adults 18-49 (4.0/11). Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (4.8/12) and a strong third in adults 18-49 (3.8/10, -0.2 behind both FOX and ABC).

Through 18 days of the May sweep, CBS is first in viewers (12.95m), adults 25-54 (4.9/12) and a solid second in adults 18-49 (3.8/12, -0.2 behind FOX).

� CSI: MIAMI won its time period in households (13.1/21), viewers (19.96m), adults 25-54 (8.2/19), adults 18-49 (6.6/17) and adults 18-34 (4.6/13). CSI: MIAMI beat NBC and ABC combined in households (vs. 12.1/19, +8%), viewers (vs. 17.85m, +12%) and competitive with the competition combined in adults 25-54 (vs. 8.5/20). This is CSI: MIAMI's best delivery in households and viewers since 1/30/06 and best demo delivery since 3/20/06.

� CSI: NY was first in households (9.9/16), viewers (15.16m), adults 25-54 (6.3/15), adults 18-49 (5.0/13) and tied for first in adults 18-34 (3.4/10, with NBC).

� SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND FINALE (S) (8:00-10:09pm) posted a 9.2/14 with 17.07m viewers, 7.4/16 in adults 25-54 and 6.2/15 in adults 18-49. From 8:00-10:00PM, CBS was first in viewers and adults 25-54, tied for first in adults 18-49 (with ABC) and second in households.

� THE UNIT was second in households (9.0/14), viewers (14.18m), adults 25-54 (5.2/12) and adults 18-49 (3.8/09). THE UNIT built on its NCIS lead by +6% in adults 25-54 and +11% in adults 18-49.

� THE UNIT 10PM SPECIAL (S) was second in households (8.0/13), viewers (12.33m, -0.55m behind NBC), adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10). Compared to last week's programming, THE UNIT 10PM SPECIAL was up +100% in households (from 4.0/06), +138% in adults 25-54 (from 2.1/05) and +147% in adults 18-49 (from 1.5/04).

� The CRIMINAL MINDS season finale posted an 8.4/12 in households with 12.67m viewers, 4.9/11 in adults 25-54 and 3.6/09 in adults 18-49. CRIMINAL MINDS trailed "Lost" by -3.71 million viewers, -3.1 in adults 25-54, -3.3 in adults 18-49 and -3.8 in adults 18-34 with its season finale. In their first head-to-head broadcast (9/28/05), CRIMINAL MINDS trailed "Lost" by -7.3 rating points in adults 25-54, -6.4 in adults 18-49, -5.5 in adults 18-34 and by -12.56m viewers.

� WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (12.9/21), viewers (19.19m), adults 25-54 (7.4/18) and adults 18-49 (5.8/15).